Latin American beats had been joined with flamenco by gitanos since at least the 1950s, mixing complex strumming with rhythmic, percussive tapping on their guitars' tops. The new Reyes generation — soon to meet and join up with three guitar-playing brothers from the Baliardo family — began creating more pop-oriented songs. They played at roma parties and at street corners until they got their chance to record under the group's new name, Gipsy Kings.
Sharp-eyed individuals might have noted that all the left-handed members of the group play guitars strung upside-down; this is usually as a result of the individuals' not having their own guitars when growing-up. Borrowing and playing a right-hander's the wrong way up was the only way to learn.
Band's story
They became popular with their self-titled first album, Gipsy Kings, which included the songs "Djobi Djoba ", "Bamboleo " and the romantic ballad "Un Amor". The song "Volare" on their second album Mosaique is a rumba version of Domenico Modugno's Italian hit "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu". The Gipsy Kings were enormously popular in France and throughout Europe along with the middle east. In 1989, Gipsy Kings was released in the United States and it spent 40 weeks on the charts, one of very few Spanish language albums to do so. Their cover version of "Hotel California" is an excellent example of fast flamenco guitar leads and rhythmic strumming (this version was featured in the Coen Brothers' movie The Big Lebowski).
In 1991 the Gipsy Kings provided flamenco guitar and backing vocals on Bananarama's version of "Long Train Running", using the pseudonym "Alma de Noche" ("Soul of the Night"). Also in '91, for a multi-artist project called "Simply Mad About the Mouse" — a compilation of new versions of songs from Disney films — the Kings contributed an annaly-crafted, fast-paced rumba flamenca version of "I've Got No Strings" from "Pinocchio" - replete with feverish flamenco guitar leads and rhythmic hand-claps (palmas). The lyrics' enthusiasm for freedom, not being tied down, fit the gipsy creed perfectly.
Their 1993 album "Love and Liberte" won the Latin Grammy Award for "Best Pop Album of the Year," and contained the enduring song "Montana," an emotional account of Roma chased from their birthplace by prejudice and persecution.
The '95 compilation "The Best of the Gipsy Kings" went platinum, staying on the charts more than one year. Albums "Mosaïque," "Allegria," "Este Mundo," "Gipsy Kings Live," "Love & Liberte," "Tierra Gitana," "Cantos de Amor" and "Volare! - the Very Best of the Gipsy Kings" went gold.
Lead guitarist Tonino Baliardo — who has always written the group's instrumentals — released his first solo album, Essences, in 2001; a second self-titled one followed in 2003.
Flamenco purists criticized their use of drum kits, electronic bass, and electronic keyboards and rock and reggae beats. Defenders say they helped create a new style.
Gipsy Kings' total album sales worldwide now exceed 18 million; they toured worldwide again in 2007. They are the world's best-selling music group from France in history, according to their website, where dates and places of their current tour can be found.
Years active: from 1987 till present.
Members
Gipsy Kings are members of two related families: the Reyes and the Baliardos (Reyes means Kings in Spanish). They are cousins of the flamenco great Manitas de Plata, lead guitarist Tonino Baliardo married his granddaughter. Nicolas, Canut, Paul, Andre and Patchai Reyes are sons of flamenco singer Jose Reyes. The Gipsy Kings are:
Nicolas Reyes: lead vocals, guitar
Paul Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Canut Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Patchai Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Andre Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Diego Baliardo: guitar
Paco Baliardo: guitar
Tonino Baliardo: lead guitar
Chico Bouchikhi was also a member of the Gipsy Kings, but quit after the album Mosaique.
Madre Mia
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Si no te tengo a mi lado
Why ahora que no vivo
Porque sin ti me muero
Madre mia, madre mia
Madre mia, madre mia
Madre mia, madre mia
Madre mia mia de mi alma
No te vaya de mi vera
Porque sin ti no vivo
Muchas penas yo tengo
No vivo, no vivo
Madre mia, madre mia
Madre mia, madre mia
De mi alma
The lyrics of Gipsy Kings' "Madre Mia" highlight the struggles of living in solitude and the fear of losing someone close to you. The singer expresses their loneliness and desperation for the presence of their loved one, emphasizing that without them, they feel like they are dying. The repeated refrain "Madre mia" portrays a sense of helplessness and vulnerability, calling out to their mother figure for comfort and strength.
As the song progresses, the singer pleads with their madre mia not to leave their side, reminding them that they cannot live without them. They acknowledge the many challenges they face in life, but with their mother's love and support, they will overcome them. The final repetition of "madre mia" drives home the importance of family and the powerful bond between a mother and child.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo me encuentro solito
I find myself alone
Si no te tengo a mi lado
If I don't have you by my side
Why ahora que no vivo
And now that I am not living
Porque sin ti me muero
Because without you, I die
Madre mia, madre mia
My dear mother
Madre mia, madre mia
My dear mother
De mi alma
Of my soul
Madre mia mia de mi alma
My dear mother of my soul
No te vaya de mi vera
Don't leave my side
Porque sin ti no vivo
Because without you, I don't live
Muchas penas yo tengo
I have many sorrows
No vivo, no vivo
I don't live, I don't live
Madre mia, madre mia
My dear mother
Madre mia, madre mia
My dear mother
De mi alma
Of my soul
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BALIARDO, REYES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@verusicilianu
Yo me encuentro solito
i find myself alone
si no te tengo a mi lado
if i don't have you by my side
y ahora que no vivo
and now i don't live
porque sin ti me muero
because without you i die
Madre Mia, Madre Mia
my mother, my mother
Madre Mia, Madre Mia
Madre Mia, Madre Mia
my mother, my mother
de mi alma
of my soul
Madre Mia de mi alma
mother of my soul
no te vaya de mi vera
don't leave my side
porque sin ti no vivo
because without you i don't live
Muchas penas yo tengo
i have much pain
no vivo, no vivo
i do not live i do not live
Madre Mia, Madre Mia
Madre Mia, Madre Mia
de mi alma
@tomdouglassicks4748
Un amor...
un amor viví
Llorando.
Y mi decía:
Las palabras de Dios
Llorando por tii-iiii-iii
es con amor.
Un amor
Un amor viví
Llorando.
Ya tormentado
Las palabras de Dios
Llorando por ti
es con amor
Hay para ya vivir junto a tí
me enamoré ya de ti
Ya sin tus besos yo no puedo
y viveré recordar
Hay para ya vivir junto a ti
me enamoré alla de ti
Ya sin tus besos yo no puedo
y viveré recordar
Yo quisiera
Para entender un amor y saber
Que me quería
Ya tormentado
Las palabras de Diós
Llorando por ti
Es con amor.
Hay para ya vivir junto a ti
me enamoré alla de ti
Ya sin tus besos yo no puedo
y viveré colgado
Hay para ya vivir junto a ti
me enamoré ya de ti
que sin tus besos yo no puedo
y viveré colgado
Ailolai lalolailolailolai
Lolailolailolailolai
Lolailolailolailolai
lolailolailola
@thediamondcuthouse8572
La primera y única canción que le dediqué a mi madre cuando servía en el ejército de los E.U cuando estaba solo en un frente de combate en la guerra de Irak 2001. Pronto nos veremos otra vez, Madre mía, QEPD!!1947-1999
@aliciasubi1397
Thank you .gracias Nicolás 👏💜
Canut gracias 💞 inconfundible tu bella voz.
Gipsy Kings esto para ustedes 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 en nombre de todas las madres del mundo
Nos vemos por ahí . BESOS ❣️🇦🇷
@aliciasubi1397
Aquí en Argentina se festejó el día de la madre . El domingo 20/10 .
Yo tengo a mi madre aún conmigo , le enviaré este bello tema 💙💜
Nos vemos por ahí. besos ❣️🇦🇷
@priscilamaiamaia1453
Gipsy Kings uma banda linda, tocam e cantam com a alma,um povo de alegria,fé e também de tristezas,como todos nós.
Desde de criança tenho uma sina com esse povo cigano,de outras vidas.❤
@lokxxxv
Verdad que si!🖤🌹🖤🌬
@aliciasubi1397
Mi entrañable y hermosa madre de llama Ana María.
Tiene los nombres de la madre e hija a la vez. De la virgen María
Nos vemos por ahí. BESOS ❣️🇦🇷
@millafaraco407
Quantos sentimentos tem os ciganos. nas suas musicas e danças . Não sou cigana ,mas admiro seus encantos, são Povo livre.
@joseantoniomirafloresalise7679
Desde los diez años los escucho y tengo cuarenta y uno gracias
@verusicilianu
Yo me encuentro solito
i find myself alone
si no te tengo a mi lado
if i don't have you by my side
y ahora que no vivo
and now i don't live
porque sin ti me muero
because without you i die
Madre Mia, Madre Mia
my mother, my mother
Madre Mia, Madre Mia
Madre Mia, Madre Mia
my mother, my mother
de mi alma
of my soul
Madre Mia de mi alma
mother of my soul
no te vaya de mi vera
don't leave my side
porque sin ti no vivo
because without you i don't live
Muchas penas yo tengo
i have much pain
no vivo, no vivo
i do not live i do not live
Madre Mia, Madre Mia
Madre Mia, Madre Mia
de mi alma
@michaelcorner9731
thanks so very much for taking the time and trouble to translate this song for us all. Bless you